House and Senate Adopt Different
Approaches to Smallpox Legislation
April 4, 2003 - The House of Representatives March
31 rejected a bill (H.R.
1463) creating a smallpox compensation fund to cover health
care workers who receive the smallpox vaccine. However, the
House Appropriations Committee included a provision similar
to the failed bill in the FY 2003 supplemental appropriations
bill (see related article).
The stand-alone bill, sponsored by Rep. Richard Burr (R-N.C.),
was brought directly to the House floor but was voted down
184-206. Opponents objected that the lump sum payment of $262,100
is too low for workers who become permanently disabled and
for survivors of those who die as a result of receiving the
vaccine. Instead, opponents of the legislation support $75,000
per year with no lifetime limit, with funds drawn from a mandatory
funding stream.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP)
Committee approved a similar bill (S.
719) by a party line vote, rejecting amendments by Ranking
Member Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) that would have eliminated
the $50,000 per year cap on compensation for lost wages and
would have allowed people permanently disfigured by the vaccine
to also receive a $262,100 lump sum. The committee accepted
Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (D-Md.) amendment that provides funds
to states to screen volunteers for potential risk factors,
such as heart disease, HIV and skin problems. Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) hopes to bring the bill to the
Senate floor soon.
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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